Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza de Brito with the coaching staff after the bronze medal game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIORER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas’ Brazilian coach Jorge Souza De Brito is honored to complete a historic AVC Challenge Cup campaign in Manila, which he now considers his home.
For the first time in 63 years, the Philippines earned an AVC medal after the young Alas side took down the taller Australia, 25-23, 25-15, 25-7 to capture the bronze on Wednesday before another jampacked Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
“I’m happy because it was here that we got a medal, here, inside our place, our home, our venue, in front of everyone. So I’m really happy that we get to celebrate with everyone,” said De Brito.
After winning five of their six games amid insufficient time to prepare, the Brazilian coach gave all the credit to his players, who showed their determination to fight for the country’s pride every night in front of an ecstatic crowd.
“I have no words to express how happy I am and also, not for myself only, I told these guys in the beginning, they deserve a lot. They really deserve it. They fight every single day since they are really young to make history here,” he said. “History has been made because of them because they trusted themselves.”
Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza de Brito. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIORER.net
The Philippines suffered a tough straight-set loss to Kazakhstan in the semifinal on Tuesday evening. Still, De Brito remained confident that his wards would bounce back and complete their historic campaign with a bronze in the Challenge Cup.
“The game plan was [all about] trust. If you stay stable [and] trust yourselves, you can do the right thing because the guys have the skill, so we do not put too much pressure on themselves. We have a good team, we just don’t want to be nervous. I think yesterday (against Kazakhstan) the skill has been affected because we were a little bit nervous,” said De Brito.
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“These guys will [improve] step-by-step every single day, growing up, getting better,” he added.
After making history, De Brito hopes it won’t take long for the Philippines to achieve such a feat saying he is keen on staying in the country, which has been appreciating his coaching for the team’s latest achievement.
“Hopefully, they don’t take too long like this one, [for the next medal]. If we give a good program and if we keep bringing the young guys, mixing with the older players that we have here, I think, we don’t have to wait too much,” De Brito said.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Tats Suzara has already appealed to the FIVB to keep De Brito as head coach of the women’s program as the Brazilian’s contract will end on June 30 and has been assigned to Chinese Taipei under the FIVB empowerment program.
The team will also keep the same roster including pool members Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Casiey Dongallo for future events including a friendly against the South Korean national team on June 7, the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to July 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, and the SEA V League in July and August.